Chapter 3: Pity –Eriol
Damn Tomoyo and her incessant watching! But she was right; I could see that. Sakura did want to know why I had returned so suddenly. She had grown in the years since I'd last seen her. Syaoran and Tomoyo could take the blame for that, but even though it changed my plans, I felt very proud of her new development.
And Tomoyo still waited. She looked so smug or at least she did to a seasoned watcher as myself. The slight raising of the eyebrow, a small tilt to her lips, yep. Tomoyo knew she had backed me into a corner I could not escape. Damn it!
"Well, Touché Tomoyo, touché." At least I could admit it and give her credit. "So what now that you have me at your mercy? Will you try to save me?" I was beyond that.
She took off her mask and shook out that shinny black hair that many a man would love to run his fingers through. She smiled and I felt more then saw half the boys around us go green with envy. "I'm having a party tonight and I'm sure Sakura would love to see you there." Damn that innocent, cute smile!
Little demonic witch. "And I would so hate to disappoint her." I smiled just as serenely as she did. Was this to be her version of 'healing' then? Wonderful.
"The party officially starts at seven, but no one will actually start to show up until eight. I can't wait to introduce you to everyone! And Sakura will look so cute in her new outfit!"
I faked looking thoughtful as only a true scam artist can and considered a way to show up even just a little later. "I'm afraid that I can't come. You see, I have several experiments running right now, all of which require my attention." Perhaps I could get out of it entirely!
"That's okay!" She smiled even brighter. "That means I can host a party just for you later on!"
She would host one, just for me? "Well, maybe I can get Nakaru to watch over them this once." Why did I choose to come here?
"So long as you come!" Damn that annoying smile!
I delayed an entrance until almost nine, but no longer. Nakaru practically shoved me out the door after I stupidly told her when the party started. And then she had to give me the instructions not to return until well after midnight! And so, I stood before Tomoyo's door dreading the next three hours. With my luck, she would host one of those proper parties that Kaho was so fond of in England, the kind that didn't serve alcohol.
Nobody answered the doorbell, so I just walked in and stared. Now, mind, it wasn't a wild and crazy, but not what I expected from responsible Tomoyo either. Loud music rocked the house while people danced in all manners. Trying to avoid the mess of bodies, I skirted around the edges of rooms and glared at anyone who came to close. Nobody was getting drunk or making out in a corner, but they were having a good old time and getting in my way.
In the kitchen, servants smiled and talked while drinking a keg of beer. Apparently Tomoyo did allow some alcohol as long as people drank in moderation. As I watched them pass the beer around, I realized not all of the drinkers worked for Tomoyo, some went to school with her. She could throw a real party.
Unfortunately I could not find the hostess and thus could not make an early escape back into the world of real people. That left me with the lovely option of hanging around. Joy. Well, a bottle of beer would at least make my search more bearable.
Two hours and too many beers later, Tomoyo had still eluded me and my determination to find her had waned. In fact, I didn't even worry about her and the stupid party. No, only a single thought occupied my mind; Kaho had come back, shorter, but still back. And I was far to busy stalking her to worry over Tomoyo or anyone else.
She looked beautiful, dancing back and forth to the harsh pounding music. Her gorgeous red hair swung back and forth in time with her hips, hypnotizing me. She filled my vision and my thought. Nothing else mattered; everyone else ceased to exist. How could they even attempt to rival her when compared with such beauty? Even Tomoyo could never come close.
A warm, inviting smile flashed across her face, but not directed towards me. Oh, no, she had eyes only for the poor sap on the other side of the room! She continued to gaze into his eyes as the song wound to a close and the unspoken words disgusted me. Why? Because she no longer wanted me, oh no, not at all. After all, I had only been her lone, wonderful confidant for seven years. Why should she need me?
I sank back into a dark corner and watched Kaho as she laughed, as she left her friends, and as she approached the other boy. She laughed, but I cried. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as she lead him from the dance floor and over to the stairs.
And what could I do but follow. She enticed me with her smile and dance. But then she destroyed me. Time stood still as she wrapped her arms around his neck in the most provocative and intimate kiss I have ever witnessed or participated in. Then she pulled him up the stairs.
That's when it started to rain. My face was almost immediately drenched in salty rain. Tomoyo really needed to get her roof fixed before someone else got soaked too. For a long moment I stood there, feeling the water drip down my face and onto the carpet. The little drops fascinated me and I couldn't look away. Nor could I get that kiss out of my mind.
"Eriol, what are you doing all the way over here?" I spotted Tomoyo but it was too late. Her whole body swayed in and out of my vision." You don't look so good." The words floated around the air but didn't settle in my head.
"Just watchin' Kaho take'er new boy upstairs." I told her plainly. "D'ya know she dumped me, right 'fore I came? Yea, that's why I'm a here. Ya believe it? She left me for a boy. By the way 'Moyo, you gots a leaky roof here."
"Oh Eriol, Kaho's not here, you're just seeing things."
"No! I saw her dancin' an' kissin' and..." I swayed. "I think I drank too much 'Moyo."
"Oh, Eriol," her hand settled on my arm. It felt good.
"Don't! I don't need your pity!" I screamed lurching away. Then the world went black.
My first sensation upon waking was a searing bright light and cool hands pressing a wet cloth over my eyes. The desire to expel all the meager contents of my stomach disappeared and suddenly everything smelled good and soothing like lavender. The night began to replay itself in my mind. Getting drunk and seeing Kaho, chasing after her watching her kiss that boy.
I groaned. That was the alcohol last night. How could I be so stupid as to believe it was actually her? A pounding threatened to shatter my skull and the urge to vomit reappeared in full force. But sitting up only made it worse.
The cloth slipped from my eyes and the purest, simplest room stared back at me I marveled at the beauty of its simplicity. How could something so plain be so beautiful? But too soon the pounding cause me to fall backwards and the cloth was quickly replaced by soothing hands.
"Calm down." The softest, sweetest voice pierced through the darkness of my mind. For the first time in days I felt at peace with myself and the world around me. Everything simply settled into place. "That's it, just let go of the pain." And I drifted back into the world of sleep.
Sorry for the long wait!!! And I promised myself never to make people wait forever and a half for a chapter!!!! Anyway, you guys wouldn't believe how stressful senoir year is, it really sucks. I know, bad excuse, but that's all I got. I probably won't update again until Thanksgiving, but hopefully that weekend I can get a lot up for you guys...hopefully